XV TURNED BACK 303 



November \6th. — After a good deal of trouble, 

 got five Shakundas to go with us to Nhaucoe, three 

 on land, and the other two, with some of our traps, 

 in the canoe. At last, about 2 p.m., we once more 

 made a start, and, thinking that anxiety and trouble 

 were over for a time at least, I stepped along with a 

 lighter heart than I had had for many days. Fortune, 

 however, seemed still unpropitious, for we had not 

 proceeded far before meeting a large army of Batongas, 

 fully three hundred strong. At this juncture, one of 

 our Shakundas, and most of our own Kafirs, became 

 invisible ; so we ourselves drove the donkeys along, 

 and went up to where the foremost Batongas were 

 commencing to assemble under a large tree, to have 

 a parley with them. If they are to be believed, they 

 have suffered grievous wrongs at the hands of the 

 Shakundas, who, as they assert, have been in the 

 habit of murdering them, ill-using and kidnapping 

 their women and children, burning their corn, steal- 

 ing their goats, etc. They further said that, hearing 

 that two Englishmen were at Chaiza, they had come 

 to ask our intervention and assistance to conclude a 

 final peace with Monteiro and his people, and there- 

 fore begged us once more to go back with them. 

 This wish, which under the circumstances was 

 tantamount to a command, we very unwillingly 

 complied with. On reaching our camp it was too 

 late to enter into any negotiations with the Portuguese 

 that day, though I sent my Basuto servant over to 

 the island to apprise him of the expressed wishes and 

 intentions of the Batongas. According to him, all 

 the fault lies on their side, and he accuses them of 

 having treacherously murdered several of his people, 

 and otherwise interfered with Portuguese trade. 

 The night was cloudy and overcast, and a little rain 



